The Inspector General of Government (IGG), Beti Kamya, has vowed to arraign in court leaders including Ministers that got involved in misappropriating relief items that were meant for the vulnerable people in the Karamoja sub-region should evidence prove them wrong.
While appearing on NBS Television over the weekend, the IGG vowed to investigate and prosecute all ministers that were named in the Karamoja iron sheet saga if evidence regarding the allegations against them proves them guilty.
“I want to assure Ugandans that if there’s cause for prosecution or even, we shall prosecute.If there are enough grounds for prosecution, we shall prosecute,” Kamya said.
Kamya said that she has already written to the ministers in question and awaits their response in regards to the matter.
“I have already written to them to explain their part—whether they requisitioned or where they took them.” “That’s why we want to know if it falls within the relief program of your area,” she said.
IGG Kamya further noted that, for any minister to qualify for relief items, they must have gone through the right procedure of receiving relief items on the program and having them approved by the Cabinet.
In February 2023, police in Bupoto Sub-County, Namisindwa District, arrested three family members of the Minister for Karamoja Affairs, Goretti Kitutu, for being in connection with the sale of relief items meant to benefit local people in the Karamoja sub-region. The prime minister asked the police to carry out thorough investigations and bring the culprits to justice once proven guilty.
The matter later escalated as leaders of Karamoja demanded Minister Kitutu’s resignation. A list of many top government officials involved in the scandal was released, which intensified the matter. The IGG has since taken an interest in the case and wants thorough investigations carried out and the suspects charged if found guilty.